The Government will introduce amendments to permit registered voters studying abroad at recognised educational institutions to have the right to vote in absentia, it was announced in this morning’s [Nov 13] Throne Speech.

The relevant portion of the Throne Speech said, “The Government, through the Ministry of Home Affairs, will introduce amendments to the Parliamentary Elections Act 1978 to permit all registered voters studying abroad at recognised educational institutions to have the right to vote in absentia.

“Voting is a fundamental right in Bermuda. Absentee balloting will strengthen voter participation and contribute to the building of a more inclusive Bermuda.”

You can view our live blog of the Throne Speech here, and all our coverage of the 2015 Throne Speech here.

Who would they vote for, where would they vote. If someone has moved overseas, they would have given up their residence, so they wouldn’t have an address or assessment number, they wouldn’t have a constituency to vote in. If they are keeping a residence unoccupied while they are travelling, then they can probably travel back to vote, either in the early poll or on voting day. if there is a medical reason for their travel, I believe special allowances already exist. But students will have a residence here where their vote can be registered to, so there is someone they can legally vote for.

So which Parish would absentee, non-resident Bermudians be allowed to vote in? This is the sticking point. Or should we just establish an ‘Overseas’ Parish for these voters? In which case, who would run for election in this ‘Parish’? And if this ‘Parish’ then contains 20,000 eligible voters (remember, actual parishes have about 1,100 registered voters), does it still just qualify for 1 voted representative?

They meant, which Parish would they be allowed to vote in, not the manner in how they vote. Remember, under the Bermuda system, you vote for the representatives who are assigned to your Parish. Overseas students still legally reside in a particular Bermuda Parish, so this is an easy one to solve. But which Parish would Bermudian nationals who now live overseas be allowed to vote in? Obviously you can’t let the voter just choose.

Lots of students don’t have the funds to travel back here at voting time. If your an adult then hey…come on home and cast your ballot…If you can’t afford it then I don’t need your vote determining my future here. Enjoy your life and ill try to survive mine.

If someone relocates overseas on a permanent basis they stop contributing to the local economy. They stop paying taxes. They cease to be affected by the votes they might cast. So there is no particular reason why they should be allowed to vote. Students on the other hand have no relocated overseas permanently – they are just in school or college.

Unbelievable, sounds like they are reading from the logs of the late former UBP senator who said rinka dink colleges and universities(recognised educational institutes). There should be no class distinction for the fundamental right to vote. Absentee balloting will strengthen voter participation and contribute to the building of a more inclusive Bermuda.”

Via the Constitution 55(1): “a person shall be qualified to be registered as an elector for the purposes of elections in a constituency if and shall not be so qualified unless, on the qualifying date, he: [ ... ] is ordinarily resident in that constituency”

Students are temporarily overseas and return through the year, so they are considered ordinarily resident here. Emigrants have moved their residence, by definition.